The Early Cold War
Communism vs. Capitalism
Karl Marx
Marxism History is a progression. –Feudalism --> Capitalism --> Communism History is a conflict between the classes. The proletariat will rise up and overthrow the bourgeoisie. Afterwards, there will be a communist utopia. The Communist Manifesto – 1848; Capital – 1867.
Communism The proletariat (workers) will overthrow the bourgeoisie (rich and propertied). The workers will own the means of production – factories, tools, etc. There will be no social classes.
V. I. Lenin
Marxism-Leninism Similar to Marxism, except Lenin said the workers needed to be led in their revolution, and that capitalism was not a necessary precondition for communism. Marxism-Leninism also justified a dictatorship.
Joseph Stalin
Stalinism Marxism-Leninism practiced by Stalin. Called for rapid industrialization by means of “Five-Year Plans.”
Potsdam Conference, 1945
The Cold War Defined An ideological, political, social, economic, and military struggle for supremacy and influence between communism, represented by the Soviet Union, and capitalism, represented by the United States, lasting from approximately
Early Conflicts The early Cold War was played out in a number of “small” conflicts and policy decisions. –The Berlin Airlift –Greek Civil War –The Korean War
Berlin Airlift
Presidential Policies
Harry S. Truman
Truman’s Presidency President from –Truman Doctrine –Marshall Plan –NATO –National Security Act –Containment policy – George Kennan
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eisenhower’s Presidency President from –Domino theory –Mutual Assured Destruction –Expanding nuclear arsenal
Nuclear Build-Up
The Tide of Communism
Mao Zedong
China China “falls” to communism in –Mao becomes dictator.
Russian Nukes In 1949, the U.S.S.R. develops its own nuclear bomb.
Fidel Castro
Cuba Fidel Castro led a long guerilla war against the Cuban dictatorship. –In 1959, Cuba becomes communist and Castro makes himself dictator. –Eisenhower almost immediately begins plotting Castro’s overthrow.
Fears The spread of communism to Cuba and China, as well as the trials of spies in the United States, led to fears of a worldwide communist conspiracy.
The Korean War
Korean War, U.S. troops fight against North Koreans and Chinese. War ends in a stalemate and a ceasefire that continues today.